Mediterranean cauliflower salad combines crisp raw cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley with a zesty Dijon mustard dressing. And since there's no cooking required, it's easy to prepare in under 30 minutes.
It reminds me of my vegan Greek salad because it contains the classic combination of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and olives. But here, chopped raw cauliflower adds plenty of crunch and soaks up the tangy dressing.
Some readers have even compared it to pasta salad made with raw cauliflower florets instead of noodles. However you describe it, it's a fresh and flavorful way to enjoy cauliflower.
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This recipe was well liked in our house. It scratched an itch for summer pasta salad. Easy to throw together. Will make it again.
- Karina
Ingredients
- Cauliflower: Fresh cauliflower stays raw in this recipe. Cut it into small, bite-sized pieces so it's easy to eat and can soak up the dressing.
- Vegetables, olives, and herbs: Cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley add color, flavor, and texture.
- Dijon dressing: Extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard make a simple zesty vinaigrette. Whole-grain mustard can be used in place of Dijon, and white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be substituted for the red wine vinegar.
Please see the recipe card for the complete ingredients, measurements, and instructions.
How to make Mediterranean cauliflower salad
- Prepare the Dijon dressing and pour it into a large salad bowl.
- Add the cauliflower and toss well so the florets are coated with the dressing.
- Add the cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion, and parsley.
- Toss again until everything is well combined.
Enjoy this salad as a starter or side dish, or add chickpeas to make it more substantial. You can also prepare it earlier in the day and refrigerate it until you're ready to serve it.
If you enjoy crisp, veggie-packed salads like this one, try my cucumber tomato bell pepper salad next.
Made this recipe or have a question? Please leave a comment below. 💙 For even more recipes, join the Veggies Save The Day community. It's less like a newsletter and more like emails between friends.
Love and Veggies,
Amy
📋 Recipe
Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1½ Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper, to taste
For the salad:
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into small florets (about 4 cups)
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well until the dressing is emulsified. Alternatively, whisk the dressing ingredients together directly in a large salad bowl.¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1½ Tablespoons red wine vinegar, salt and pepper
- If you prepared the dressing in a jar, pour it into a large salad bowl. Add the cauliflower and toss well until the florets are coated with the dressing.1 medium head cauliflower
- Add the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onion, and parsley. Toss until everything is well combined.1 cup cucumber, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup Kalamata olives, ¼ cup red onion, ¼ cup fresh parsley
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
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Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation.
Linda J. says
The salad was easy to make. Very simple in taste yet delicious. I added to my individual bowl Swiss cheese, dried cranberries and a small apple. I will use feta cheese next time, but this salad is soooo good!!!
It has become my favorite cauliflower salad.
Amy Katz says
Thanks so much for coming back to leave a comment, Linda! I'm happy you are enjoying the salad. 🙂
Linda says
Can you make it in the morning and serve at dinner or is it best to eat as soon as you make i?
Amy Katz says
Yes, you can. I hope you enjoy it, Linda!
Laurie says
Tried this last night and both my husband and I really liked it but for us it was missing a little something-will be adding additional fresh herbs from garden next time. Also, we are not vegan and really think some feta cheese would be a great addition. Thank you for your posting and inspiration
Amy Katz says
Thanks Laurie! I appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave a rating and review. 🙂
Rene says
Oh my gosh THANK YOU for this RAW cauliflower recipe! Every Mediterranean cauliflower pasta salad I found cooked the cauliflower to death, and I love it raw! I realize I could just skip the cooking step with any recipe, but I couldn't figure out why everyone was cooking it - maybe I was missing something? Apparently not because here is YOUR recipe, and it's absolutely delicious with the raw cauliflower! Thank you for this as I was really craving pasta salad but trying to avoid the carbs. Plus I have beautiful Persian cucumbers in my garden I need to use. Once my tomatoes are ready, I will definitely make this again.
Amy Katz says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Rene, and that you are also a fan of raw cauliflower!
Karina says
This recipe was well liked in our house. It scratched an itch for summer pasta salad. Easy to throw together. Will make it again.
Amy Katz says
I'm so glad to hear it, Karina! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment. 🙂
Jamie Smith says
I made a huge bowl of this for my lunch. I did par boil the cauliflower just for a minute. I also added chopped artichoke hearts and chickpeas to make it a complete meal. So yummy!!
Vicky says
Yum yum 😋
Amy Katz says
Glad you enjoyed it, Vicky!
Janet says
What can be subbed for the olive oil? I eat WPFNO because of heart disease. Thank you
Amy Katz says
Hi Janet, you can simply leave out the olive oil. Or you can combine the other dressing ingredients in a blender with a little bit of avocado and water.
Barbara says
I cannot believe how easy this was to make and how delicious it is! The recipe was clear and easy to follow, and I love how Amy offered substitutions if needed. That’s rare to find these days. There are so many ways to pair this up or ways to add accompaniments I cannot wait to eat the leftovers, and this will DEFINITELY be on my menu each week! Thank you, Amy!!!
Amy Katz says
I'm so happy you enjoyed this salad as much as I do, Barbara! 🙂
Faith Bush says
Do u not cook the cauliflower?
Amy Katz says
No, it's a raw cauliflower salad. The dressing will make it soften a little.
Donald Hurren says
I'm thinking of combining the mustard roasted cauliflower with the other ingredients and not roast cauliflower as long so it still has a bite
Amy Katz says
Sounds like a great idea. Please let me know how it turns out!